The Biden administration has initiated the process of withdrawing U.S. troops from Niger, although a specific timeline for the operation has not been disclosed yet. A U.S. defense official confirmed the commencement of discussions between the U.S. and Niger for the orderly removal of troops. The official stated that a small delegation from the Pentagon and U.S. Africa Command would be involved in the withdrawal talks.
Niger holds a crucial role in U.S. military operations in Africa's Sahel region, where concerns about the proliferation of jihadi violence persist. The country hosts a significant U.S. air base in Agadez, utilized for various surveillance and operational activities. The U.S. has heavily invested in training Niger's military since 2013.
However, recent political turmoil in Niger, including the ousting of the democratically elected president by mutinous soldiers, has strained relations with Western nations. The junta in Niger has requested French forces to leave and turned to Russia for security assistance. Russian military trainers have arrived in Niger to bolster air defenses and provide training with Russian equipment.
Efforts by the U.S. to renegotiate the military agreement with Niger to retain access to air bases have reportedly failed. The loss of access to these bases in Niger is seen as a significant setback for the U.S. and its allies in the region, given the strategic importance of the country for security operations in the Sahel.
Peter Pham, the former U.S. special envoy for the Sahel region, highlighted the challenges of replacing the air bases in the short term and suggested that the remaining European Union military presence in Niger might also withdraw following the U.S. departure. The strained relations between the U.S. and Niger could impact the flow of development and humanitarian aid funds to Niger, a country facing numerous well-being challenges.
